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Texas Counties Deliver
  • Programs

    The Lavaca County Judge has overall responsibility for emergency management, preparedness, and response within the county. To assist in managing the day-to-day activities Lavaca County utilizes an Emergency Management Coordinator.

    Local emergency management programs include:

    • Carrying out public education relating to known hazards
    • Carrying out recovery activities in the aftermath of a disaster
    • Coordinating emergency response operations during incidents and disasters
    • Designing and implementing hazard mitigation programs
    • Emergency planning
    • Planning and conducting drills and exercises
    • Providing or arranging training for local officials and emergency responders
    • Threat identification and prevention activities

    Emergency Operations Center

    Lavaca County maintains an Emergency Operations Center (EOC), staffed by members of its various departments, that is activated to manage the response to major threats and incidents and coordinate internal and external resource support. Lavaca County operates under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to standardize operations and responses with other city, county, state, and federal responders.

    Management

    Lavaca County, Texas uses the Incident Command System (ICS) as our incident management scheme. Under ICS, an Incident Commander typically directs the on-scene response by local responders from a field command post set up at or near the incident site. Responders from Lavaca County, neighboring counties and cities, along with state and federal responders that have been called on to assist when local resources are not sufficient to deal with a major emergency, are also integrated into the local ICS.

    Egon Barthels serves as the Lavaca County Emergency Management Coordinator and can be reached at 361-798-5628.
  • None of us like to be unprepared in times of panic or disaster, which is why everyone should carefully plan for a disaster.  A disaster can strike very quickly without much warning.  You may have to evacuate your home or be confined to your home depending on the emergency at hand.  You must consider all likely circumstances and begin planning around that scenario.  If you are able to stay at home, electricity, water, heat, air conditioning, telephone service and transportation could be disrupted or lost for a considerable amount of time.  Most emergency preparedness personnel recommends having enough food, water, medications and other essentials on hand for at least 3-5 days. For more tips on preparedness visit ready.gov.

    • 2021 Annual Tier II Reports

      Reminder that all annual Tier II Reports for reporting year 2021 are due by March 1, 2022.

      See the attached Tier II Reporting Quick Start Guide for more information, training classes, and other resources to help you get started on your 2021 Annual Report.

      Reminder: The new Tier II Help Form is the fastest way to receive assistance from Tier II Staff.

      Tier 2
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    Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), counties in Texas must have a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).  

    Most legal responsibilities for the LEPC are from Public Law 99-499, Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) assist in the development of an emergency response plan, review the plan at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. LEPC membership is broad and includes representatives from: elected state and local officials, emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, local health, emergency medical service, local media, community groups and industry partners. This means local people are making local decisions about how to prepare for, respond to, recovery from and how to mitigate chemical emergencies in our community. 

    • The LEPC is designed to assist local government in developing hazardous materials plans.

    • The LEPC is the link between local citizens, industry, and government.

    • The LEPC is the point of contact for the public to obtain information on chemical hazards in their community.

    Mission:
    To identify hazards; and plan and coordinate community resources for preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery from all hazards, natural and man-made; through planning, preparation, and communication between citizens, business, and government.

    Responsibilities:
    • Receive from the owner or operator of each facility Tier II documentation.
    • Receive notification of chemical releases by facilities.
    • Receive from each facility the name of the representative that will participate in the LEPC.
    • Coordination in providing information to the public as it relates to EPCRA.
    • Promote public awareness of chemical hazards in the community.
    • Coordinate the evaluation of resources necessary to develop, implement, and exercise the jurisdiction’s EOP (Emergency Operation Plan).
    • Gather and review existing community and facility emergency plans.

  • Register NOW for Lavaca County CodeRED by Clicking here.

    The Cities of Shiner and Yoakum also utilize the CodeRED system. You may also register for their respective CodeRED Warning Systems by clicking either Shiner and/or Yoakum below. The CodeRED sign up page will open in a new window.
    Shiner CodeRED
    Yoakum CodeRED
    Download the free CodeRED Mobile Alert app today to stay informed of community, emergency, and severe weather alerts directly on your mobile device. The app is geo-aware, meaning that you will only receive alerts that impact your specific location. To download the app, visit https://onsolve.com/codered-mobile-alert-app/.
    To sign up for Lavaca County CodeRED, Click here.

    Since January of 2018, Lavaca County Texas Office of Emergency Management has utilized the emergency communications system, CodeRED. Similar telephone notifications are also used by local municipalities, and school districts to inform parents of upcoming school events or emergency situations.

    The system is voice activated. The recipient must say “Hello” before the message will be relayed.

    For those residents without Internet access, they may call Lavaca County OEM at 361-798-5628 to supply their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, primary phone number and the name of your cell service provider. Additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

    Again, the program can be utilized by both residences and businesses. If you have an unlisted phone number, have changed your phone number or address within the past year or use a cell phone or VoIP phone as your primary number, you should register for the alerts. Multiple telephone numbers can be attached to a single physical address, but residents cannot have multiple residences linked to one phone. Both IPhones and Android phones also have a CodeRED app available.
    If you are currently receiving emergency or community notifications from CodeRED in your area but would like to stop receiving them, please unsubscribe here. If you opt-out you will no longer receive these potentially life-saving alerts – but don’t worry, you can opt back in at any time.

  • LAVACA COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE REGISTRY (STEAR) PROGRAM

    Lavaca County residents with access and functional needs are advised to register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) and update their information every January.

    The STEAR program is a free registry for Texans of any age that need additional assistance during an emergency event due to access or functional needs or lack of transportation for evacuation. The STEAR registry assists local emergency planners and responders with information about the needs of individuals in their community.

    “Many different kinds of emergencies can create an array of needs for Lavaca County Residents. Planning is vital to ensure all residents are assisted quickly and safely during emergencies,” said Egon Barthels, Emergency Management Coordinator, Lavaca County Office of Emergency Management.

    STEAR is intended for people with access and functional needs such as:

    People with limited mobility

    People who have sensory disabilities

    People who require additional medical assistance during an emergency event

    People who require transportation assistance

    People who require personal care assistance

    The information that is shared through STEAR should be updated every January to ensure information is up to date. Last minute registrations prior to a weather event or emergency may not reach local emergency managers.

    Residents can register by going online to https://stear.tdem.texas.gov/ or calling 2-1-1.

    Description
    Assists local emergency responders and officials in planning for emergency events. Having an applicant's information helps determine what kinds of services might be required during a disaster, and helps responders plan and train more effectively. Local governments use the information in different ways. 

    • Registration DOES NOT guarantee evacuation transportation or a specific service during an emergency. Registration is not a substitute for developing and maintaining your own family disaster plan
    • The applicant's information will be provided to participating local governments for their use in developing emergency management plans and to assist them in preparedness and response activities. Each local government uses the information in different ways.
    • A STEAR application must be filled out for each individual with additional assistance needs.
    • Callers requesting assistance during a disaster event should dial 9-1-1

    An individual's information will be kept in the system for 1 year. A notice will be sent reminding individuals that they must re-register for STEAR.

  • Is your street address number on your home or business property? If not, please post your assigned physical street address number right away.

    When you dial 9-1-1 from a traditional phone system in your home, the address and/or phone number is deployed on the 9-1-1 callraker's screen. The address shown should be your physical address is your 9-1-1 address, not a rural route or box number. 

    Your 9-1-1 address number should be posted and visible from the road so that emergency service agencies can easily find you in case of an emergency.

    Post Your Numbers

    In an emergency, seconds can sometimes make a life saving difference. Make sure your 9-1-1 address numbers are posted on your house or business and are easy to see from the road. A well marked location is much easier for law enforcement officers, firefighters and medical personnel to find you when you need help. 

    You can get street numbers at most hardware and discount stores for a reasonable price or you can even paint a sign. We recommend you get something reflective so it can be seen at night as well as during the day. Think like someone who has never located your home and post the address where it would be obvious. 

    Ensure even in town

    Just because you are located inside the city limits doesn't  necessarily mean your home or business is easier to locate than one in the rural area. Some communities have nice scroll number plates or number plates or numbers painted on the curb. Place a light that shines directly on your house numbers and/or make sure that the numbers are clear of any grass, bushes, etc. so that they can be seen. A nice alternative is lighted address sign - these can be found at most home improvement stores.

    Check your address with the phone company

    The phone company's information for your 9-1-1 address is what will display on the 9-1-1 center's equipment. It is very important that you check that the phone company has your correct 9-1-1 physical address and not an old or incomplete one listed. if you are unsure of your correct 9-1-1 address, contact your county 9-1-1 addressing coordinator.

    Report Missing Street Signs

    Another important aspect to locating you is to report missing road signs when you notice them. Although many emergency personnel know where most of the roads are located, a road sign ensures that they have the correct location. If you notice yours is missing or damaged, please report it to your County Commissioner, or if in the city, please call City Hall.

    Know Your Location!

    If you don't have traditional home phone service- this is the kind that you pay a local provider for and it plugs straight into the wall socket with no other equipment- then you must know your location because the odds are that your address and phone number information will not be provided. Sone things to know about your location would be what street you are traveling on, what mile marker was seen recently and direction of travel. Always state where your emergency is as soon as possible in the call, you may need to be transferred to the correct call center to get the appropriate help. 

    We Need Your Help

    • Display your address on your home- not just the mailbox.

    • Use Reflective Materials

    • Check your address through your phone company to be sure they have the correct address listed.

    • Report Missing Street Signs

    • Know Your Location

    To obtain a 9-1-1 address for your location, please call GCRPC 9-1-1 department Monday through Friday from 8 to noon and 1 to 5, at the number below.